I.

Know yourself
Think about what it is you like to do, study, read, discuss, and contemplate. Conversely, it is also important to consider what you don't like to study or if there are particular subjects in school that do not hold your interest. It is your interests, abilities, values, goals and ambitions that will help drive your college search in a particular direction. As you begin to contemplate potential areas of study it is often difficult to consider all the possible options. An interest inventory, career inventory or personality assessment can be good tools to help you get a handle on your strengths and weaknesses.

II.

Begin the process early and keep an open mind
Late winter school break is an excellent time to begin the search. Set time aside to do some surfing on the web. Colleges have their own individual websites and there are many college exploration sites as well. If your family is traveling during school vacation try to make a point to visit colleges that may be on your travel route. Begin to consider what may play a factor in your decision: size, distance from home, location, public vs. private, and school philosophy. Just as important when thinking about these factors is to keep an open mind. There are over 3,000 undergraduate colleges and universities across the country and many of these schools can provide the right fit for your college needs.

III.

Complete your research
Attend college fairs, presentations and panels. Talk to people such as guidance counselors, college students on break, parents, and friends. Once you have taken the PSAT and as you proceed to take the March, May or June SAT, colleges will begin to send you various pieces of information. Read the literature and collect information that is important to you: are you interested in attending a large university that offers unique research opportunities; are you interested in a small college experience where you get to know all your professors; are you considering going to school a distance from home?

Be careful not to base your winter/spring initial list solely on admissions selectivity and what publications such as The US News and Princeton Review Top Colleges guides say. These guide and rankings books are only one tool and filter. You really need to spend significant time on a school's websites beyond the admissions offices pages. You should be reading what the undergraduates are reading on a school website. Read the most recent issue of the student newspaper, read the requirements and home page of a specific department that interests you, look through the course catalog and spend some time on the student life pages. There is so much to learn from a university website that lies beyond the admissions and financial aid pages, and I find that so few students really look beyond the main marketing pages of any school's website. This is the best and most affordable way to get informed about a college and whether you want to take the next step of visiting that institution.

Spring of the junior year is an excellent to time to plan a more comprehensive college visit. Take a tour of the colleges that you may be considering, take the opportunity to meet with a faculty member, or observe a class in session. These on-campus opportunities can give you a much better sense of the campus environment, academic philosophy and residential community that the school has to offer. You should keep in mind that some colleges may be on-break at the same time you are on spring break. We recommend visiting schools while they are in session in the spring. You will probably be visiting some colleges in the summer, when school is out, so make a concerted effort to see schools that are in session in March/April or to visit colleges that you won't have enough time to visit over the summer.

IV.

Focus on your high school program
As many college admission officers will tell you, junior year academic achievement is paramount to preparing for the rigors of college level work. The level of coursework, grades achieved, GPA, rank in class and overall academic performance will help to determine how you are viewed through the admission process. Although junior year is very important, senior year course selection and performance is also a key factor in the admission process. Admission committees will be taking a close look at your final year of high school and how you have prepared yourself for the next level of academic challenge.

V.

Invest in meaningful activities
Although the middle of your junior year is 'late' in your high school experience, it is never too late to partake in a significant activity that could help to boost your credentials. If you have not already done so, involve yourself in your school, community or church. Find a group that focuses on your hobbies or interests. Getting involved and finding that 'passion' is often what colleges are looking for. However, schools are not looking for students to join activities simply to pad their resume. They are looking for students who have found one or two activities in which they have invested their time and efforts to make a difference in their school or community. A job, volunteer experience, and/or commitment to an athletic team all play a significant role in developing who you are as a student and future applicant.

VI.

Begin to narrow your search
The self-assessment references earlier should lead you to form some possible decisions: the type of academic challenges you are looking for, a particular major that you have in mind, the size of school that would fit with your needs and interests, the community environment that would correspond with your personality and other factors. By the end of your junior year a list of ten to fifteen schools should be compiled as you have done your research, searched the web, spoken to people at the colleges and visited various campus communities.